Nepalnews.com Mercantile Connumications Pvt. Ltd.

General Secretary of Rastriya Prajatantra Party DEEPAK BOHARA, 45, is an influential politician in the RPP. When RPP was on the verge of second split in a row recently, former minister Bohara played a crucial role to prevent it. Bohara strongly believes that there is a need for dialogue between the King and the leaders of seven parties to end the current political stalemate. Bohara, who has over the years transformed himself as a sober politician, spoke to KESHAB POUDEL at his residence in Baluwatar. Excerpts:

As a general secretary of country’s third largest political party, what do you say about the present political crisis?

RPP has a clear stand on the ongoing political crisis as our party has already endorsed the agenda that there is a need for dialogue between the King and the leaders of seven political parties. Dialogues between these political forces are essential to solve the impasse.

Our party has certain position and we are against the Constituent Assembly as well as the reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives. Reinstatement of the parliament cannot guarantee political stability. Our party believes that only through holding free and fair elections for the House of Representatives can the country’s political problems be solved. There is a need to form all party government to guarantee the free and fair elections. Election for the House of Representatives is the only alternative for ending the present political crisis. That would also address the demand for the reinstatement of the House. Our concern should be how to hold the free and fair elections.

At a time when a group of dissenters in your party are threatening to split the party, how do you see the future of RPP?

Of course, there are some dissensions within the party and we have already succeeded to bury our differences. I am happy to say that there is a realization now among the party leaders about the need for party unity. Infighting is not going to benefit anybody. RPP has a bright future in the country as we have been stressing for reconciliation between constitutional forces. Our party opposes all kinds of extremisms.

In the conflict between the King and the seven political parties, where does your party stand?

As I have already mentioned that negotiations is the only way out to overcome the political crisis. We don’t agree with the seven political parties’ agenda to go for street agitations. Agitations will only brew confrontation. We are making efforts on our part to avert the confrontation. As the country has been in virtual civil war, organizing street agitation will add another trouble. This is the reason RPP has been making every effort to convince political parties not to launch street agitation and join the course of negotiations.

When ruling side and agitating political parties are provoking each other taking hostile stands, how do you see the possibility of negotiations?

Whatever stands they take, constitutional forces including the King and the seven democratic political parties have no option other than dialogue and negotiation. The RPP and the seven agitating political parties have similar objectives and our difference is only on the process to achieve those objectives. Seven political parties have chosen street agitations to press the King whereas our party has chosen the path of peaceful negotiation and dialogue. We don’t have any major difference over the restoration and revival of the democratic process.

Recent activities of constitutional political forces are widening the gap. Do you see any meeting point?

Instead of adding new list of demands, constitutional forces must concentrate on the agenda of agreements. Since the constitution of the House is the only way out to overcome present political crisis, we need to concentrate on how to hold the free and fair elections. There must be all party government to hold the elections. We have to give up the area of disagreements and find area of agreements. RPP believes that there are many areas of agreements.

How do you see the appointment of half a dozen RPP members in the present cabinet?

You cannot single out our party workers only. The cabinet members include former politburo member of CPN-UML and powerful person of Nepali Congress like Prakash Koirala. Frankly speaking, our party did not have anything to do with the appointment of ministers.

But, other parties have already dismissed their members who have joined the government. Nepali Congress expelled Prakash Koirala and CPN-UML expelled all rebels. What about your party?

I have already told you that we did not recommend the name of our party workers and they have been chosen on personal ground. So there is no question of taking any action. I can say that they did not join the government on party basis. It is meaningless to debate over the action. Those parties, which took actions will give membership once they apologize. RPP has clear stand endorsed by its central committee members. It will not make any difference to our party if certain members of our party are inducted to the government. There should be dialogue between the King and the political parties and constitutional forces must be together to overcome the political crisis.

Some of your colleagues are joining the government and you are talking about the need for dialogue. Is it not a contradictory stand?

It is not contradictory. Every political party has two views. In Nepali Congress, some leaders are urging to invite the Maoists but there are many others who oppose it. Likewise, RPP also has two views. Since the party has only one policy, there is no room for confusion and contradiction. In all parties, there are individual disputes over the agenda and issues but only party’s stand will be treated as the authentic stand.

Your party has already produced two prime ministers and several ministers in the last three years. How were they chosen?

Whether the appointment of Lokendra Bahadur Chand or Surya Bahadur Thapa or other ministers, our party did not take formal decision. They were appointed on personal basis. There was consent of all political parties when Lokendra Bahadur Chand was appointed as prime minister. Although both of them were senior leaders of the party, our party had not recommended their names.

You have been stressing the need for negotiations and dialogues for such a long time. When will it take place?

I am optimistic that all constitutional forces will come to the negotiation table to overcome the present political impasse. It seems impossible now but they don’t have many options. Political forces must give up areas of disagreement.

We are encouraging constitutional forces to start negations. Since King Gyanendra has expressed his willingness to start dialogue and seven agitating parties also show their willingness for negotiations and dialogues, there are credible and hopeful signs. In this situation, if the RPP is required to perform any role, we are ready. There are lists of demands presented by the parties but I can see much flexibility on their demands. You cannot start negotiations on the basis of threat. If you want to negotiate, there must be flexibility and politeness.

Whatever the demands political parties have forwarded in the street, there are ample room for negotiations. Once the King and the political parties start dialogue, they will find acceptable political settlement. When the political parties can agree to hold dialogue with the Maoists, there is nothing to prevent them from holding the same with the King. We are ready to play a role of facilitator. We are ready to take initiative. If country’s major political parties want dialogue with the King, it will always be possible. I am confident that the King will always open the door of dialogue. What is required is the willingness to start dialogue. There is a need to erase pre-conditions for dialogue. We have already held a number of talks with the Maoists without any pre-conditions. How can we put pre-conditions for dialogue with the King?

I frequently visit my constituency. Despite difficulties to travel, I often go to my home constituency. Since the Maoists have killed many of our workers, there is a need to take certain precautions. I enjoy visiting my constituency.

The country has been passing through a very critical phase. There is a need for unity among country’s major political forces. We should not waste our time to start dialogue and negotiations. This country is ours. Sooner we unite, better the future of the country.

Since Surya Bahadur Thapa was a founder member of our party and there are many RPP’s elected members in Janshakti Party, one cannot rule out the possibility of unification. We don’t have major differences over our ideology.